Credit and debit cards that use ‘contactless’ technology and don’t need a pin number for low-value transactions are finally gaining popularity, new research reveals.

Commissioned by payments company Visa Europe, the study found that 58 per cent of users preferred contactless payments over cash or cards if they were in a hurry. Nearly a third said they preferred the technology in any situation with a queue.

The ‘Contactless Barometer’ survey found that 85 per of contactless users would recommend contactless to their friends and family and 90 per cent think it makes life simpler.

More than half, however, said that they have never been asked to pay with contactless technology in a shop, with 37 per cent citing this as the main barrier preventing them using the technology.

Contactless payment terminals have now been installed in all McDonalds’ UK restaurants, as well as retailers including Subway, Pret A Manger, Caffe Nero, EAT, and selected outlets of Boots, Burger King, Little Chef and Clinton Cards. Co-op, Wilkinson and Starbucks have already confirmed they will offer contactless in the near future.

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More than half of all consumers said that they liked not handing over their cards and not having to carry cash or loose change.

The survey also found that 44 per cent of users were concerned about losing money if their card was stolen, even though they are subject to the same level of consumer protection as all Visa cards. The company says there are currently 15 Million Visa contactless cards in circulation in the UK and 23 million in Europe. An expected 20 million Visa contactless cards will be in circulation in the UK by 2012, with a total of 30 million in circulation across Europe.